PROMOTER Matt Ford hit back at remarks over Poole Pirates’ burgeoning asset list and told old adversary Alun Rossiter: “You’re wrong!”

Swindon boss Rossiter argued Ford was “very fortunate” to have access to an “abundance of riders” having cited the triple Elite League champions as the team to beat again in 2016.

But Ford insists Poole’s dominance of British speedway, so frequently the topic of hot debate among the sport’s fans across the country, is no fluke.

Ford told the Daily Echo: “I read with interest that Alun had used the term fortunate with regard to our team building.

“He is a good friend of mine and while I respect his right to an opinion, I have to totally disagree with him.

“The fact our club has been asset rich over the past eight to 10 years is nothing to do with fortune, it is down to being willing to invest, an opportunity open to any promoter in the sport.

“If people wish to purchase assets, they just have to ask the club concerned. There is no luck involved, it is quite simply that we have been prepared to invest more than any other club.

“Two riders that will be representing Swindon (Josh Grajczonek and Dakota North) have both been paid for in hard cash by our club and both go out on loan with our blessing.

“I hold Alun in high regard and we will always be good friends but sadly, he is wrong on this occasion.”

But while Ford’s approach has stood the test of time with seven top-flight titles in 17 years at the helm, the Wimborne Road chief stopped short of holding his club up as an example for others to follow.

“It is not for me to tell anyone how to run their business,” he added. “I run Poole as best I can and in the way I see fit and other promoters must do the same.

“Just because it works here at Poole, there is no secret formula to making something run, it is a series of things.

“A lot of it is to do with the people you have off the track, that makes the biggest inroad into making a club successful and the basis of Poole is sound.

“A case in point is King’s Lynn. Buster (Champan, owner) now has a stadium and track that anyone would be incredibly proud of. He has invested his money in the infrastructure, making sure it is a sound business venture for years to come.

“Perhaps he hasn’t invested in his asset base and in certain periods, you can catch a cold if your top rider is only on loan to you and decides not to come back.

“But they are the decisions every promoter has to make. I don’t want to preach to others, it is your own call.

“It is lovely that this small town on the south coast of England has been so dominant. It is a compliment to everyone involved that we are not everyone’s cup of tea and that is down to the success we have had.”